Football Sunday - NFL Showdown

Today is a day that so many in the Washington DC metro area have been waiting for.  Football Sunday.  Both of our local teams are playing today, the Washington Red Skins and the Baltimore Ravens.  The Ravens game started at 1:00 pm and the Redskins game is later today. Both teams have done well this season and the fans are loving it.

People love football.  At church today people were wearing their Baltimore Ravens jerseys and people where wearing purple, the team's color.  Excitement was in the air.  We were at church, and it was full to the brim.  I think almost all of the 4,000 seats were taken.  It may be because everybody wanted to get home to see the Ravens, but no matter the reason, Bishop Thomas was ready for the masses.

He took his text from Exodus chapters 13 and 14.  Those chapters refer to when Moses lead the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt where they had been slaves.  They had prayed for freedom and it had come, the only problem was, that freedom wasn't exactly what they thought it was going to be.  The people of Egypt had suffered 10 plagues because they would not "let the people go" as God had commanded through Moses.  

Can you imagine Moses a dirty tired shepherd , who was a murderer, demanding of Pharaoh to let his people go?  Pharaoh was the wealthiest, most powerful ruler on the planet, he wasn't afraid of a man with a big stick and an invisible God.  Well, ten plagues later Pharaoh and the people of Egypt changed their minds.  The only thing is, once their slaves, their cash cows, the reason they were so rich were gone, they went after their slaves.

We are just like the children of Israel.  We are slaves to people, things or habits in our lives, and we ask for freedom.  Once we have our freedom, we have to realize that there's going to be a fight after that victory.  We can lose our victory due to doubt.  When the people of Israel saw Pharaoh's army behind them they turned on Moses and made him the bad guy.  Wrong response.  All they had to do was trust God.  If God got them out of Egypt, he had want it took to get them into the Promised Land.  They just didn't know how he was going to do it.  He did not tell them because they would not have believed him. They would not have believed him because their minds were too small at the time.  They would not have been able to handle the limitless power of God.

We may be just like the Israelites, but we can learn from their mistakes.  We can have the right reaction.  We can choose to stay calm and trust God.  He has our backs.  Even in football, the team members have each other's back.  No one player can win the game alone.  Each position has a job to do.  It is the coach that decides which player has what position and how that person is to perform in that position.  There is the defense and the offense.  

As Christians we play way too much defense Christianity, God has put us on the offense, that is the only way to score a touch down, unless the defense pulls off an interception, which is possible, but that is not how most football games are won.  We are the offense, we make plays that God has given us to win, and he protects us because he is our defense.  He's got our back, and sides, and any where else he needs to cover us.  All we have to do is trust him.

Bible Verse

Exodus 14:14

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Back To Life, Back to Reality

In 1989, the British Soul singing group released a single titled "Back to Life (However do you want me).  This song became popular in the United Kingdom and the United States. It is a song I remember, and it was a time in my life when I had to get back to reality, as I spent my last semester at Penn State in a study abroad program in San Herman, Puerto Rico.  It was a wonderful experience that I treasure, but I was graduating from Penn State, my family was moving to , of all places Selma, AL, and I had to find a job.  The fantasy I had been living as an exchange student was over, as was my undergraduate career.  I of course, I was very happy that I had finished my degree, but the reality of it was I now had join the real world.

I feel the very same way this week.  I have returned to work after a very restful and peaceful winter break.  I remember sitting in my little room in my over sized yellow leather chair with my legs up on the ottoman looking out the window and reading and snoozing for hours.  What a luxury!  I had not done that in months and it felt so good.  I had time just to sit and read and dream, and think and relax.  I could not have had a better day if I had been on a cruise ship in the Caribbean or heading to Alaska.

I was glad to return to work.  On break I tend to sleep too much, eat too much, and spend too much money.  The reality comes in the mail as a bill, or stepping on the scale and watching it in denial inch up.  Overall, I was pretty good this year, but there is nothing like just being at home relaxing.

Returning to work means returning to a hectic schedule.  My very first day back I forgot a union meeting I had to attend after work and I had planned dinner with friends.  Oops.  What was I thinking?  I forgot to check my work calendar when I was at home on break.  I am used to overbooking myself, so I made a few adjustments, an e-mail and a phone call and I was able to handle both.  I have another meeting tomorrow (Saturday) and right now I don't want to go.  I just want to stay home, but this meeting is about the budget of the school system and since my program is always under act to be cut, it is important that I go.  Next week there is testing that I have to proctor, a return to my class at church, and free yoga classes to consider as well a play about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. premiering.

The next week I have three professional development trainings to attend, a weekend workshop I signed up for, and a staff meeting.  The following week is the Inauguration of President Obama which I am attending, but it takes planning to do so.  Hmm!  Just writing all this stuff down I am getting tired.  Between the things I have to do, and the things I want to do, I feel stretched at best, overwhelmed and stressed at my worst.  I miss winter break all ready!  It was a time when time seemed to stand still and I was able to catch my breath.

I am still reading the book of Matthew and as I read the end of chapter 11, I read three verses that  I have read before, but have given me renewed hope.

Matthew 11:28-30

New International Version (NIV)

²⁸ “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

So, with these words from Matthew I will take a step back and exhale and make needed adjustments so I will not run myself crazy.  I have found that when I read God's word and spend time alone with him one-on-one, the result is peace and wisdom.

If you feel stressed and overwhelmed already in 2013, take it from me, don't waste our time or energy, instead, just go to Jesus

For you 1980's music fans, the link for the video of "Back to Life" is below.  The lyrics were simple and fun. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB54dZkzZOY

At the Alter - On my knees at the end of 2012

New Year's Eve is a time of year for great celebration.  It is the end of something that was and will never be again.  It is a time to stop, take a look back, and reflect on lessons learned.  It is also a time to celebrate accomplishments, and remember those we love that are no longer with us.

For Christians New Year's Eve, is not just a day to prepare for parties, and an evening at Time's Square in New York City, or parties, but it is a time to attend church and thank the Lord for his blessings and pray for the year ahead.  In the African American community, this service is called "Watch Night Service" and 150 years ago on December 31, 1862,  they were watching and praying in their churches for freedom to come.  January 1, 1963 it did when president Abraham Lincoln signed his Emancipation Proclamation.

Today is the 150th Anniversary of President Lincoln signing the Emancipation Proclamation setting slaves free forever in the United States.  There is much controversy about this document and Lincoln's intentions, and even a celebration called Juneteenth because slaves in Texas did not learn of their freedom until June 19th, but the fact remains he wrote and signed the document into law.



The National Archives is celebrating this milestone by having the Emancipation Proclamation on display New Years Day weekend and hosting a number of programs.  It struck me as I watched the Oriels baseball team's sponsored Baltimore New Year's Eve Celebration that an African American woman, who was an honored guest of program, is the leader of this major east coast city, in part because of President Lincoln.  Could he, or any one of his time  imagine that by 2012, Baltimore would not have one, but two African American women mayors.  I truly doubt it, I don't think President Lincoln's vision was that vast or forward thinking, but that does not matter, he took one step in the right direction and it was a big one.  His step is documented, debated, and celebrated, but the end of slavery, and the Civil Rights Movement would not have been possible if  steps of many famous, and unknown men, women, and children from all over our great country and world, had not ben taken.  It takes each of us to make a difference.

I was at church last night.  We had two services and my friend and I decided to attend the 6:30 pm service.  We got there at 6:30 pm, but it took us 15 minutes to get inside the church.  There were so many people at that service that we had to park in the American Red Cross parking lot and be shuttled to our church.  Once inside, we were informed that the sanctuary, that seats 4,000, was completely full.  We had to go downstairs and sit in the Chapel and watch the service on a big screen.

I was so disappointed.  I live a long way from my church, and watching the service on a big screen was just not the same as being in the sanctuary.  There were so many children where we were, and children can seldom sit still, and since we were in the overflow room people in general were a bit distracted.  We were sitting up front so I was able to pretty much tune out all the movement, noise, and distractions and focus on the service.

I enjoyed the service, the music was surround sound, loud, clear, and beautiful.  Bishop Thomas preached a powerful sermon that he titled "Safety Net."  Once he finished his sermon, people started to walk out of the Chapel.  This is a critical time in the service when everyone should be still.  Alter call follows the sermon.  This is when the pastor opens the doors of the church and invites all those who are not saved and do no have a church home, to come to the alter and give their lives to Christ and/or join the church.  When people walk out during this time of service it greatly distracts those who are in the midst of making a decision.  It is at this time of the service, more than any other that the people in the church are praying.  It is better to leave the service during the sermon than the alter call.

Bishop welcomed those who responded to alter call and the new members ministry time took them to the room of welcome.  Then Bishop Thomas opened the alter for prayer.  Our last corporate prayer for 2012.  Since my friend and I were in the Chapel and so many people had already left, I decided to go to the alter in the Chapel.  I got down on my knees and my friend kneeled right next to me.  When I thought of all that happened in 2012, I was struck numb.  I could not pray, all I could do was kneel, and bow my head.  Bishop Thomas prayed, and even though he as on big screen upstairs, since I was at the alter, the most anointed and powerful place in the church, I allowed his prayer to be my prayer.  It was beautiful and just what I needed.  As he prayed I began to cry.  Soft at first, but then the tears came like a flood.  My friend put her arms around me and held me as Bishop Thomas prayed on.  She helped me stand when the prayer was over.  I left pain, hurt, disappointment, and despair at the alter last night.  My tears washed them all away, and the prayer gives me joy and strength to face 2013.  In Bishop Thomas' words, "We got this!"

Remember no matter what happens in 2013, God is your "Safety Net" and that "You Got This."  Happy New Year!  Be blessed in 2013.

Bible Verse  and Bishop Thomas' Scripture Reference for last night's sermon.

Deuteronomy 33:27-28

New International Version (NIV)

²⁷ The eternal God is your refuge,
    and underneath are the everlasting arms.
He will drive out your enemies before you,
    saying, ‘Destroy them!’
²⁸ So Israel will live in safety;
    Jacob will dwell^[a] secure
in a land of grain and new wine,
    where the heavens drop dew.